Episode notes
Photo: Daniel Speer / Maximum Fun
It’s hard to think of an American rock band more distinct and influential than The Beach Boys. There’s no mistaking their catchy songwriting, or their stacked harmonies – the band’s signature sound. Our guest this week is Al Jardine, one of the original “beach boys” alongside Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Mike Love. Al Jardine was the rhythm guitarist, and one of the few Beach Boys not related to the Wilson family. He sang lead vocals on a handful of songs, including their smash hit “Help Me Rhonda.”
Jardine left the Beach Boys in 1998 and has toured solo ever since. He also remained close friends with Brian Wilson, who died this past June. He even sang lead vocals for the single off one of Wilson’s last studio albums: “No Pier Pressure”. Jardine, like all the other Beach Boys, has a beautiful voice, and a keen sense for harmony and melody. He just released an EP called Islands In The Sun, and he’s touring it with Brian Wilson’s band.
Al Jardine talked with Bullseye about Brian’s passing, growing up making music with the Beach Boys, and rediscovering the magic of The Beach Boys compositions in his later experiences with their music.
In this episode...
Guests
- Al Jardine
About the show
Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture.
Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney’s, which called it “the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world.” Since April 2013, the show has been distributed by NPR.
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